Secretary of State Jim Condos is issuing the following guidance with respect to the potential impending storm/severe inclement weather our state may receive as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

“Although we are not sure exactly when or if this storm will affect us, we all learned many important lessons from Tropical Storm Irene, and we want to remind local municipalities and state agencies how to prepare for an emergency, should one arise,” stated Condos.

Below you will find some helpful resources:

• What do I do first?

While it’s difficult to prepare for an emergency when you don’t know what to expect, in incidents where you have advance notice of a storm or other major weather event, there are steps you can take to mitigate damage to your agency or department’s records.

A first step is to identify and prioritize safeguarding any records in your possession that are essential to your agency/department’s mission and cannot be recreated if destroyed. Depending on your agency/department function, these may include active files, property records, or records needed in the event of an emergency such as continuity of operation plans (COOP). Your COOP may already list essential records.

• What should I do with essential and other records prior to an expected emergency?

1. Keep paper records at least four inches off the floor, and even on upper floors of your building, if possible.